News

Surfin': More Going ATV Digitally

Back to last week's Surfin' about Amateur Television (ATV) going digital, I received some comments that are worth repeating here.

Steve Lampereur, KB9MWR, recommended these resources for further information on the topic: Fundamentals of Digital Television Transmission, by Gerald W. Collins, PE (ISBN 0-471-21376-4) and "Digital Amateur Television (D-ATV)," by Don Rotolo, N2IRZ, in the June 2004 issue of CQ Magazine.

Bob Hale, N1WBD, commented that Dish Network uses MPEG-2/DVB in their satellite service to US customers: "One could homebrew a MPEG-2/DVB receiver and/or transmitter for use in D-ATV, or for that matter possibly modify a Dish Network receiver for use on D-ATV."

Sjaak Van Dam, W4RIS (ex-PA3GVR), revealed that ATV hams in Europe have been experimenting with D-ATV for almost 10 years. The standard that they use is DVB-S, which is widely used in the US by free-to-air satellite providers.

Art Towslee, WA8RMC, wrote that Amateur Television in Central Ohio (ATCO) in Columbus, Ohio, also has an operational D-ATV repeater system on the air and were the first ones in the US to do so. On the air for more than three years with excellent results, ATCO uses DVB-S modulation because of its simplicity, availability of inexpensive receivers and the ability to receive while in motion. In fact, they have had success with mobile digital ATV. You can learn more at the ATCO Web site.

Until next time, keep on surfin'!

Editor's note: Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, still wonders if program content will also improve when commercial television goes digital on February 17. To communicate with Stan, send him e-mail or add comments to his blog. By the way, every installment of Surfin' is indexed here, so go look it up.